Phil Couture of IFG served as an international panelists for the Development and Planning Commission of the Beijing Municipal Government to prequalify and shortlist developers to finance, construct and operate two new 2008 Olympic Facilities: the Wukesong Cultural Center a  $375 million dollar, 2.4 million square foot mixed-use development including a 20,000 seat arena, activity center, and commercial facilities and the National Swimming Center a $75 million dollar, 540,000 square foot complex which was planned to include 17,000 fixed and permanent seats and serve as the focal point for Olympic swimming events.

 

The Wukesong Cultural Center was a large-scale comprehensive project, rare in Beijing in integrating cultural and sporting functions and commercial purposes with large-scale gardens and green space. Opening in January 2008, it successfully hosted the basketball preliminaries and finals. The venue was constructed by Beijing Wukesong Cultural & Sports Co. Ltd. whose five shareholders are CENCONS Group, Haidian State-owned Assets Investment Co. Ltd, Beijing Urban Construction Group Co. Ltd, Beijing Urban Construction Co. Ltd and the Tianhong Group.

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